The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources predicts that leaves throughout the state will change to their fall colors this month, with the leaves in Butler County now on the verge of reaching “best color.”

Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks environmental educator Natalie Simon said the parks offer some of the best views for people looking to experience the full range of fall foliage.

Moraine has a few events coming up that will give people a view of the leaves from Lake Arthur, with a “fall foliage float” taking place this weekend, and a fall foliage cruise next Friday.

“It's good for fall foliage because the edge of the lake is all wooded for the most part,” Simon said. “So, being on the water is pretty special.”

Simon said the kayak event is almost filled up, but as of now the cruise still has room for registrants.

The DCNR has a webpage that updates the leaf color status in each county week by week. It also lists the types of plants that change colors and has a page explaining why the color change takes place. It can be found under the conservation tab at www.dcnr.pa.gov.

According to the DCNR, nights becoming longer are the main reason that leaves change and fall.

“As days grow shorter and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with nature's autumn palette,” the page says.

Moraine has a few other weekend activities that will guide people on how to experience fall. The annual oil field living history exhibit is on Saturday, where the restored Muddy Creek oil well will be demonstrated.

“The movement and the sound is pretty neat because you could see how the Bessemer engine entry works through gearing and rods and shaft,” she said. “They put some crude Pennsylvania oil in and it's a closed system, so it goes through a working pump, so you can see how that works.”

McConnells Mill has a few guided hikes coming up, one on Friday where a guide will take hikers through the recently incorporated Breakneck Falls trail, and one next Thursday focused on fall foliage.

Breakneck Falls is aptly named, according to Simon, but the end result is worth the tough hike.

“It's my favorite waterfall,” Simon said.

October is the last month that McConnells Mill is open, and while Moraine has programs year-round, Simon said autumn is a popular time for visitors.

“There are still groups hiking, just not as many,” she said.

For more information on the upcoming events, visit Moraine and McConnells Mill websites.